717 anaesthetics, consisting of a combination of droperidol and ketamine, were given to children aged between 2 months and 17 years for surgical and diagnostic procedures in ophthalmology. The administration of droperidol prior to ketamine resulted in (1) reduced doses of ketamine of 3.59 mg/kg body weight for a mean surgical duration of 18.11 min and (2) an absence of controversial psychomimetic side effects of ketamine. This procedure--called Dualanaesthesia--is simple and of low risk. Investigations were made concerning the cardiovascular and respiratory system, as well as the oculocardiac reflex, analgesic and antiemetic effects. Based on these positive experiences, this method is recommended for paediatric anesthesia.